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NEW POST! Remote ESOL Project (but great info for other than ESOL as well!)

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NEW POST! Remote ESOL Project (but great info for other than ESOL as well!)

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On the left menu, see especially 'Creating Equitable Access' and 'Promising Practices.' https://edtech.worlded.org/remote-esol-project/

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Effective Strategies for Learning: Virtual Learning Circles - EdTech Center @ World Education

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The learning circle is a successful approach that builds up students' control over their learning. "This one-pager for practitioners provides an overview of virtual learning circles as an effective strategy for remote learning. This resource also connects virtual learning circles to a larger remote ESOL ecosystem, and provides considerations for programs who are considering implementing the model."

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Effective Strategies for Learning: Virtual Learning Circles - EdTech Center @ World Education

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Effective Strategies for Learning: Virtual Learning Circles This one-pager for practitioners provides an overview of virtual learning circles as an effective strategy for remote learning. This resource also connects virtual learning circles to a larger remote ESOL ecosystem, and provides considerati…

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Transforming Distance Ed Course - EdTech Center @ World Education

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Take the whole course at your own pace or select specific topics you need to know about right now. Transforming Distance Ed Course - EdTech Center @ World Education

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Keep up with ACLS: Be sure to review Adult Education Policies, Curriculum, and Assessment. Check Mailings for helpful information.

EdTech Center's Strategy Sessions - webinars every 2nd Friday with resources and practices from colleagues. Be sure to see the repository of recorded sessions.

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Register your program to be matched with a donor near you. Devices can include laptops, tablets, computers, web cameras, monitors, keyboards, and more. See their FAQ for more information.

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Millions of people are cut off from opportunity because they don't have a computer. At Digitunity, we believe everyone who needs a computer should have one, and that device ownership is the heart of digital equity. Possessing a functioning, connected computer and the skills to use it productively is a basic, fundamental need in today's society.

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for those who receive free school lunch or other government benefits.

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Affordable devices for hybrid learning.
Once you've signed your family up for Project 10Million, you can purchase these affordable devices at-cost through your account or at your nearest T-Mobile store.

Samsung Chromebook 4

Lenovo 100e Chromebook

Lenovo 100e Windows PC

TCL Tab 8 LE

During congestion, Project 10Million customers may notice speeds lower than other customers due to data prioritization. Video typically streams at DVD quality (480p).
See full terms

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Free Internet for Students: Project 10Million | T-Mobile

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With Project 10Million, we're providing eligible student households free internet on our expanded network to help fight the homework gap. Learn more today!

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Digital Literacy Standards recommended by ACLS

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Digital Literacy Standards recommended by ACLS

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Look for workshops this fall from the SABES Program Support PD Center!

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An essential component of a high-quality adult education program is the integration of digital literacy into curriculum and instruction. ACLS requires all programs to support the digital literacy development of students at every class level.

Digital literacy can be defined as the skills associated with using technology to enable users to find, evaluate, organize, create, and communicate information. The integration of digital literacy into curriculum and instruction is required in order to provide opportunities for students to explore, experiment, and develop expertise using real world applications for digital literacy while building their academic skills. Programs are expected to incorporate a variety of tools and technologies into the classroom to support learning.

Resources for Digital Literacy

Questions? Contact Paula Jurigian, ACLS Distance Education and Digital Literacy Specialist.
Last Updated: October 12, 2021

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massachusetts department of elementary and secondary education

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Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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The goal of the Massachusetts public K-12 education system is to prepare all students for success after high school. Massachusetts public school students are leading the nation in reading and math and are at the top internationally in reading, science, and math according to the national NAEP and international PISA assessments.

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Lessons and materials on using Chromebooks, Gmail, Zoom, and Google Classroom for both online and in-person teaching formats. Thanks to English for New Bostonians!

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Google App Videos | Englishfornewbostonians.org | Boston

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It's easy to lose track! See p. 2 for one example that can be put in a student handbook and used at orientation. From English Now!

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Copy of Carlos Rosario English Now! Welcome Packet

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Affordable Connectivity Program from the federal government

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Affordable Connectivity Program from the federal government

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households receive assistance to pay for internet service and devices. There are now 20 service providers who have high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less, which means no out-of-pocket costs for ACP recipients.

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households receive assistance to pay for internet service and devices. There are now 20 service providers who have high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less, which means no out-of-pocket costs for ACP recipients.

Watch this video to learn more about who qualifies and how to sign up.

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The Affordable Connectivity Program - EdTech Center @ World Education

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The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a benefit program that helps ensure that households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare, and more. Eligible households receive assistance to pay for internet service and devices. There are now 20 service providers who have high-speed internet plans for $30/month or less, which means no out-of-pocket costs for ACP recipients.

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Online products ACLS subscribes to on behalf of DESE-funded programs (Isn't that fantastic?)

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Online products ACLS subscribes to on behalf of DESE-funded programs (Isn't that fantastic?)

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For the list, protocols, and who to contact, see the ACLS mailing: ACLS June 2022 Monthly Mailing Newsletter (campaign-archive.com)

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ACLS June 2022 Monthly Mailing Newsletter

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A message from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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"

A collection of digital tools you and students can use. Search by the five areas in the above image. Check it out! From the EdTech Center @ World Education.

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Workforce EdTech Tools - Workforce EdTech

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Explore tech tools to accelerate career advancement & lifelong learning and to enhance your capacity to improve career-related skills.

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Searchable repository of over 1,500 activities to support digital skills development. Compiled by educators for educators. Quickly put your finger on what your students and you need! From the EdTech Center @ World Education.

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Digital Skills Library - EdTech Center @ World Education

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The Digital Skills Library is an open repository of free learning resources designed to help all adult learners develop the digital skills needed to achieve their personal, civic, educational, and career goals. The library is managed by the EdTech Center @ World Education. All resources within this library have been curated by educators to align...

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reduced wifi price for income eligible students

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reduced wifi price for income eligible students

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- Lifeline

- Internet Essentials

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Now available for free Zoom accounts too! Click above for video instructions, below for written instructions. Zoom Live Transcription – Emerson IT Help Desk

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Second Flipgrid video for Student Recognition and Motivation

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Second Flipgrid video for Student Recognition and Motivation

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This second Flipgrid video I made on my phone for my ESOL Distance Learning (DL) Coach students.  Since making this video, four of my DL Coach students have created their own Flipgrid videos independently! :)

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Initial Flipgrid Video for Student Recognition and Motivation

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Initial Flipgrid Video for Student Recognition and Motivation

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This is my "Keep Up the Great Work!"  video for my ESOL Distance Learning (DL) students using Flipgrid. It was done on my laptop.  It may be a little choppy, but when I showed one of my students at our DL Coach meeting via Zoom, she had a big smile and thanked me; and I got positive written feedback from my other DL Coach students! :)

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Build in routines for students to strengthen their digital literacy

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Build in routines for students to strengthen their digital literacy

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Example: A couple of teachers developed a plan to regularly use a particular Google application for each skill in their curriculum. (Thanks to Jeff Goumas for highlighting this in the EdTech Strategy Toolkit video!)

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Useful (and cheap!) gadgets for teaching and advising

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Useful (and cheap!) gadgets for teaching and advising

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Thanks to Mr. Winslow at Julie's Family Learning!

Document camera, such as https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0827LLG8P/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ($70)

Tracking webcam, such as https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B095395B4C/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ($30)

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OKIOCAM OKIOLABS S Plus 2K Document Camera 2-in-1 with OKIOPoint Smart Visual Pointer, Document Camera for Teachers, Doc Camerac for PC, Mac, Chromebooks, IWBs, Zoom Overhead Camera, 1944p

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OKIOCAM S Plus is a USB webcam and document camera featuring a QHD 5MP camera sensor and a detachable base for utimate portability. The S Plus is a great doc cam for teachers, students, and presentors.

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Digital Skill-building by Design: The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit

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Digital Skill-building by Design: The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit

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This is "a resource to help educators explore sustainable edtech routines — general, repeatable edtech activities  that can be leveraged regularly regardless of context or content..." VERY useful for building digital literacy. Check it out!

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Since March 2020, we have seen widespread adoption of technology by adult educators. Throughout this process, we have seen a gradual shift from "emergency response teaching" - throwing whatever tech tool or platform we could at learners in an effort to keep learning going - to the realization that in order for edtech to be effective and sustainable, there must be strategic rationale behind edtech use.

To support this more strategic approach to edtech integration, as well as recognition of the need to be developing the digital skills of both learners and instructors, the EdTech Center (ETC) is excited to "soft launch" the EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit. The Toolkit - currently in mobile-app format only - draws inspiration, content, and expertise from a variety of recent and ongoing ETC projects; these include the mLearning initiative (which has been supported in part through finding from the Barbara Bush Foundation's Adult Literacy XPRIZE Communities Competition ), the CrowdED Learning Initiative (funded by the WES Mariam Assefa Fund ), the monthly Distance Education Strategy Sessions , and the Spring 2021 EdTech Maker Space Digital Skills Library project .

The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit is a resource to help educators explore sustainable edtech - general, repeatable edtech activities that can be leveraged regularly regardless of context or content and provide predictable experiences for learners- and understand the underlying evidence-based strategies behind their use. It also provides guidance on how to develop learners' digital literacy when implementing these routines by providing sample questions teachers can ask that support direct instruction of digital skills. These questions are designed to help make connections between the tasks learners perform by way of the routine to the underlying digital skills being developed.

To do this, the Toolkit is organized so educators can explore by three points of entry:

BY ROUTINE: This tab allows educators to explore different edtech routines, organized into 5 categories based on what learners are doing within the routine:

Engage & Question (e.g. exploring, connecting prior knowledge, forming inquiries)

Build knowledge (e.g., researching, gathering and analyzing data)

Process & Practice (e.g. mapping, visualizing, trying, questioning, wondering)

Respond & Create (e.g. reporting, demonstrating, presenting)

Assess & Reflect (e.g., defining criteria, monitoring, self-assessing, evaluating progress, reflecting)

BY EDTECH TOOL: This tab allows you to explore various edtech tools, categorized into how they are used, and see if there are currently routines within the toolkit that leverage that tool. (Note: This is the least "complete" of the sections and is something for which we will be actively working to crowdsource content from practitioners in the coming year.)

BY SKILL: This tab allows you to explore based on skills as defined by the Seattle Digital Equity Initiative's Digital Skills Framework . Each skill includes learning resources you can use with your learners to help develop that skill, as well as "I can" statements that help establish relevance with learners.

The routines are based on work the EdTech Center's CrowdED Learning initiative completed in November 2020 developing a curriculum-specific Technology Integration Toolkit as part of an update to Women Employed's Career Foundation curriculum. They also draw from submissions included in EdTech Center's mLearning Resource Hub as well as strategies shared during ETCs monthly Distance Education Strategy Sessions. There will be ongoing additions to the toolkit developed by instructors who complete the IDEAL 103 Building an EdTech Strategy Toolkit (BEST) course .

Each routine includes activity details - the , the , and the of implementing the routine with your learners. Included in the are relevant evidence-based strategies described in the linked Digital Promise's Adult Learner Variability Navigator site. ( See this March 2021 lightning talk from Digital Promise's Medha Tare and Sarah Caciccio to learn more about the Navigator.)

Some routines also include "View" and/or "Copy" links that allow you to see and make a copy of a template you can use to implement the routine with learners, such as this progress monitoring tool built in Google Sheets , which is used for the routine shown in the image.

At the bottom of each routine are details regarding the connected digital skills. This section provides context for explaining the digital skills learners develop as they engage in the routine, including direct questioning prompts you can use to invite discussion around the underlying digital skills.

The "Skills" section/library is currently the most robust of the three sections, and it builds off of the work of our Spring 2021 EdTech Maker Space project, in which nearly 60 educators aligned over 1,200 activities to the 75 skills of the Seattle Digital Equity Initiative's (SDEI) Digital Skill Framework .

The activities within the library draw from GCFLearnFree.org (Goodwill Community Foundation), DigitalLearn.org (Public Library Association), Learn My Way (Good Things Foundation), and Basic Computer Skills MOOC (WISC-Online). Between now and our "official" launch November 12, we will also be adding in projects from Google Applied Digital Skills .

Within the skills library, you can navigate to a specific skill and see which activities align. For each activity, details are provided such as learning modality, source, and mobile-friendliness. You can launch each resource from the app, or copy the URL of a resource so you can share with learners by text, email, or other mode of communication.

Over time, we intend to have a student-facing version of the Digital Skills Library. It will also be integrated into our Spring 2022 update of SkillBlox .

At the moment, you will notice some inconsistencies within the app. That's because this app is a work in progress....and we need your input to make sure we build off of this starting point in ways that make it as useful as possible to adult educators.

Because of this, you will notice that all screens within the app have a "provide feedback" button. This button will launch a form that you can use to provide feedback on anything: ideas for improvement, missing/erroneous links, suggestions for skill alignment updates, etc. Over the course of the next month, you will see lots of changes in real-time...including new activities, updated navigation, and updated images and icons.

Once we've incorporated your feedback, there will be plenty of opportunities to help us add to the toolkit. These include future EdTech Maker Space projects starting in early 2022 as part of our Digital Resilience for the American Workforce (DRAW) initiative , co-creation events, open calls for activity submissions, and more!

The Toolkit app was developed using Glide Apps, the same free, no-code app building tool we have used to develop our Marshall Leveled Reading Program and the Video Math Prep for the GED apps. Because it is a browser-based app, you first will open it within a browser and then need to add the site to your homescreen. Note: You can use the app both on your computer and your phone.

Follow these steps to add the app to your mobile device:

1. Go to https://etctechtoolkit.glideapp.io/ on your mobile device.

2. Once loaded on your device's browser, you will be prompted to add the app to your homescreen. This process is different whether you are on an iOS or Android divide, so Glide offers this nifty video to walk you through the process .

3. Once you've added it to your homescreen, it will appear as an icon just like any other app. All you have to do is tap to launch!

Watch an overview of what's in the toolkit and how to use it, as well as a summary of practitioner feedback we've gathered in the lightning talk below.

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Digital Skill-building by Design: The EdTech Integration Strategy Toolkit - EdTech Center @ World Education

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Since March 2020, we have seen widespread adoption of technology by adult educators. Throughout this process, we have seen a gradual shift from "emergency response teaching" - throwing whatever tech tool or platform we could at learners in an effort to keep learning going - to the realization that in order for edtech to be...

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Video by and for students! Read about Dan Bruski's class project and view their video. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xFXDlp-GRWd19Pqx8tlbBYdi-6UGDz7E/view

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How to be a Successful Online Student.mp4

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Zoom on smartphones: the student perspective plus how to use lots of features

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Zoom on smartphones: the student perspective plus how to use lots of features

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Mini videos and activities. Thanks to Jayme Adelson-Goldstein and the ESOL C & I Center!

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ACLS guidance: Essential Look-fors and Strengthening Adult Education Remote Learning

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ACLS guidance: Essential Look-fors and Strengthening Adult Education Remote Learning

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At the top of ACLS's Curriculum Templates and Helpful Resources page. Like they say, they're helpful!

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How-to videos for students on Google Classroom, learning platforms, phone storage, and more!

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How-to videos for students on Google Classroom, learning platforms, phone storage, and more!

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Scroll down to 'Watch Tech Help Videos.'

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404 - Page Not Found - Saint Paul Public Schools

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404 - Page Not Found - Saint Paul Public Schools

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Useful guidance.

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Research shows few differences in academic outcomes between online and face-to-face university courses. A professor who’s been teaching online for years offers advice on good online courses.

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Want to view captions?

On a computer: (Read all steps first.)
1. Click the video to start it.
2. Click the magnifying glass icon to enlarge it.
3. Near the bottom right corner, click CC.
4. To return here, click anywhere on the webpage.

On a phone:
1. Tap the video (may need to do this twice) to start it.
2. Tap it again to reveal the menu icon (3 vertical dots) and click it.
3. Click 'Captions off' to toggle captions on.

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Instructional ideas and materials from colleagues

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Instructional ideas and materials from colleagues

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- 1-hour webinar recording - See Mobile Learning Webinar #2. Addresses adapting and optimizing teacher-created material for mobile instruction, tools and strategies to help you organize and share free, mobile friendly content with learners​, and goal-setting strategies and tools for learners using mobile learning apps.

- Tools and resources including the template for teacher-created material, instructional support tips, learner navigation and tracking postcards, and more!

(Thanks to the EdTech Center @ World Education!)

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A very helpful template to help plan communication, instructional content, and management strategies. Thanks to CrowdEd Learning! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LaCVQ_IVXOsyxwuZU-goIYI3qHbO9_MbRQE4gZTk2uo/edit

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Teaching materials and support from the C & I centers

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Teaching materials and support from the C & I centers

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Check 'em out! Contact the centers for support.

- Math: https://www.sabes.org/content/resources-remote-instruction
- ELA: https://sabes.org/content/ela-remote-teaching-learning-resources
- ESOL: https://www.sabes.org/content/remote-instruction-digital-literacy-resources-and-research

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See the Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies in the Recruitment column.

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See the Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies in the Recruitment column.

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See the Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies in the Recruitment column.

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See the Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies in the Recruitment column.

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Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies

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Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies

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Collected wisdom from seasoned program directors. Thanks to:

Jen Brunelle, Worcester Public Schools

Nancy Labonte, Bristol Community College

Marianna Geraskina, Catholic Charities/El Centro

Luanne Teller, SABES Program Support PD Center

The Key to Success? Flexibility!

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To support programs in meeting enrollment targets, the Program Support PD Center compiled this Guide to Recruting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies based on presentations at the May, 2021 ACLS Directors' Meeting session: The Key to Success? Flexibility!

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SABES Program Support PD Center: Guide to Recruiting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies

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To support programs in meeting enrollment targets, the Program Support PD Center compiled this Guide to Recruting, Onboarding, and Enrollment Strategies based on presentations at the May, 2021 ACLS Directors' Meeting session: The Key to Success? Flexibility!

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The 7 Elements of Effective Remote and Hybrid Instruction

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The 7 Elements of Effective Remote and Hybrid Instruction

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Thanks to Nell Eckersley and Cynthia Bell! For this and the webinar recording and slides, see April 23 on the EdTech Center @ World Education' Strategy Session Resources:  https://edtech.worlded.org/tips-for-distance-learning/strategy-session-resources/

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Here are some popular standards. They take different levels of views, from global to specific, so it may be helpful to use more than one in concert with another.

Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment - Scroll down to the Standards section.

Seattle Digital Equity Initiative Skills Framework - Click for more info and support materials the EdTech Center @ World Education put together. Ignore the parts about signing up for the EdTech project and scroll down to the sections The Framework and The Curriculum Materials.

ISTE's SkillRise has a helpful guide for programs, and pp. 7-8 have competencies/identities that may be useful for framing your choices.

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Digital literacy lessons for beginner language learners

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Digital literacy lessons for beginner language learners

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Gmail and Drive. Includes captioned video, slides, and assignments. Thanks to Julie Hastings of Portland Community College!

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How-to resources from the Math C & I Center

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How-to resources from the Math C & I Center

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Thank you, Math C & I folks!

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On-demand webinars on all these topics (and more)! 

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On-demand webinars on all these topics (and more)! 

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Busy? Do them when you have time!
https://sites.google.com/view/pspdcondemand/home

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How-to videos from the ESOL C & I Center

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How-to videos from the ESOL C & I Center

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How to download WhatsApp on various devices - great for students! -  how to use Google Forms and Zoom for ESOL instruction. Thanks to the Center!

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Please view our library of recorded sessions below. You will not find all of our courses here as some do not lend themselves to recording due to the nature of the content and others are designed to be delivered as part of a classroom/virtual classroom experience.

Additionally, there are several "how-to" video clips which include adding WhatsApp to your iPhone or Android Smartphone, as well as adding Zoom to your smartphone. Good things to know!

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SABES ESOL PD Center - Session Recording Library

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Please view our library of recorded sessions below. You will not find all of our courses here as some do not lend themselves to recording due to the nature of the content and others are designed to be delivered as part of a classroom/virtual classroom experience.

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American Rescue Plan Higher Education (HEERF) Funds

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American Rescue Plan Higher Education (HEERF) Funds

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The U.S. Department of Education put out guidance and a rule on the American Rescue Plan higher education emergency relief funds (HEERF). This should be of interest to the roughly 500 Title II programs that operate out of an institution of higher education. The links to the guidance and the rule are below, with more information on which students are eligible for the funds and how they can be spent.

Guidance:   This covers the student eligibility issue for emergency student aid, but also many other questions around HEERF III grants, including highlighting some uses of funds that include vaccination efforts.

Rule:  The rule lays out which students are eligible including non-credit and those not eligible for Title IV (including undocumented students, DACA participants, and international students). Most students enrolled at an IHE are eligible for funds from the emergency student grant portion. This is a final rule.

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From the IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook (2020) -  the bible for distance ed. and blended learning program development.

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Adapted from digital literacy self-assessments developed by SABES Program Support PD Center and the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN)
This self-rating form is comprehensive and suitable for use in helping teachers determine their own technology competencies. You may want to use the items here as a guide to develop your own checklist that focuses on the skills required by the particular distance education program you are offering.

Access to Technology

1. Do you have a device for teaching that you can use at your local agency, satellite locations, and/or home (if needed)?

2. Do you have access to high-speed internet at your local agency, satellite locations, and/or home (if needed)?

3. Do you have access to other technology needed for the distance education program (e.g., smartphone, tablet, software, applications)?

For each of these areas below, please indicate your skill level integrating these tools/skills into teaching activities and your interest in attending professional development on this topic using the scales below:

Basic Computer Operation

There are some basic skills and knowledge that both you and your students need to have in order to learn with technology, such as start-up steps, using the keyboard, printing, and troubleshooting simple problems.

Productivity Software

These tools allow people to perform various tasks, including creating written documents, graphs and spreadsheets, and presentations. Some popular productivity software includes MicrosoftOffice (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher) and Google Applications (Docs, Sheets, Slides).

Instructional Software

These resources include a wide array of programs, ranging from complete online curricula to those used for specific skill development, e.g., reading, writing, math, work skills, and ESOL.

Assistive Technology (AT)

These tools include assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitative devices. AT promotes greater independence for people with disabilities by enabling them to perform tasks that they were formerly unable to or had great difficulty accomplishing.

Creating learning resources that are
accessible for learners with disabilities

Using Online Resources

Many classes have access to and use the Internet on a regular basis because adult learners need the skills involved for further education, at their places of employment, and for daily life needs.

Communication Tools

People today communicate using a variety of online technology tools. Some examples include email, shared online documents, blogs, and social networking sites.

Video Technologies

These tools include video cameras and other digital media tools as well as video editing software. These tools can be used to create both teacher- and student-generated videos.

Professional Development

Keeping up with and integrating technology into classrooms requires continuous learning and exploring. There are many ways you can continue to learn, including doing research online, subscribing to email lists, using Twitter or other social networking sites, talking to colleagues, attending conferences, and even using this self-assessment tool.

Evaluating and Using New Technologies

One of the most challenging tasks you may face is simply keeping up with current technologies and choosing what is best to use in your classroom and program. Sometimes our students are way ahead of us!

Social and Legal Issues

The instructor serves as a role model when it comes to using technology. This includes knowing and obeying copyright, privacy, and other computer and Internet usage laws; modeling healthy habits while using computers; and thinking and talking about the role of technology in society.

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Appendix D: Computer Skills Assessment for Teachers

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Adapted from digital literacy self-assessments developed by SABES Program Support PD Center and the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN) This self-rating form is comprehensive and suitable for use in helping teachers determine their own technology competencies.

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The Zoom Graduations I have attended are deeply meaningful despite the fact that the ceremonies are taking place online. In general, educators have found really amazing ways to support community building among students in the middle of an international crisis.

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Please add your tips!

- It helps to catalogue the devices so they can be kept track of easily.

- Devices may need to be 'restored' when returned, so setting up a restore point previously is helpful. (Click for an example for a Windows laptop/PC - see 'Restore from a system restore point.')

- There are services that can be purchased that track the location of devices (click for one I found randomly - I have no experience with them), but colleagues and I have found that loaning to students who are known to be responsible works out fine 99% of the time.

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CCRSAE includes a sprinkling of digital literacy skills here and there. Other respected sources for skills lists include:

Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment - click to download the document. In addition to their own curricula that address those skills, you can click in that section for external resources that address them as well.

Seattle Digital Equity Initiative has a list of skill sets - see pp. 8-11. They compare products according to those skill sets.

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Ideas for teaching with online documents. (Ruth O'Brien-Denly -thank you!)

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Civics for All of US Civics for All of US is the new education initiative from the National Archives that promotes civic literacy and engagement. DocsTeach Teach with documents using our online tool. Explore primary sources. Discover fun and engaging teaching activities. Create your own online or print activities for your students!

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Student-created assessments for their classmates

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Student-created assessments for their classmates

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Many thanks to Sarah Gilleman at the Adult Learning Center/Holyoke Community College!

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Multilingual vocabulary for technologies, Google applications, Zoom, plus typical actions

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Multilingual vocabulary for technologies, Google applications, Zoom, plus typical actions

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Many thanks to Wadyla and her colleagues at Framingham Adult ESL Plus! Click to download.

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MassEdCO Eductation and Career Planning Center

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MassEdCO Eductation and Career Planning Center

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Our staff provides community outreach workshops and presentations to school districts, community-based organizations, and faith institutions on providing guidance on getting into and paying for college, as well as pursuing career-building opportunities. This service is available free to all nonprofit entities.

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See the May 29 Distance Learning Strategy Session webinar. From the EdTech Center @ World Education.

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The Accessibility Toolkit has guidance on ways to create or modify materials according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) to make them perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

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This collection of resources consists of recommendations and tools for ensuring that various forms of content are accessible for students according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines and resources are distilled into a set of simpler principles, as captured by the acronym POUR, that define four qualities of an accessible user experience: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

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This collection of resources consists of recommendations and tools for ensuring that various forms of content are accessible for students according to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). These guidelines and resources are distilled into a set of simpler principles, as captured by the acronym POUR, that define four qualities of an accessible user experience: perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

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Research-based. English and Chinese (translated by a student -yeah!) (Please disregard the appearance of the site - it's not feeling well.)

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There are 23 pages. Look in the bottom right corner to find the page number.
Click the arrow below to go to the next page.
To make it bigger, click the square in the bottom right corner.

成功学生之攻略

下面一共23页。页数在底部右角。
点击箭头转下页，放大请点底部右下角方块。

Intermediate/advanced level video. (An advertisement will show first.)
To make it bigger, click the bottom right corner after the video starts.

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There are 23 pages. Look in the bottom right corner to find the page number. Click the arrow below to go to the next page. To make it bigger, click the square in the bottom right corner. 成功学生之攻略 下面一共23页。页数在底部右角。点击箭头转下页，放大请点底部右下角方块。 Intermediate/advanced level video.

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This practice I made is a bit dated because it's for the old BEST test, but it gives an idea of how it might look. Diana ESL - Writing Test Preparation

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Wisdom from programs:

1. Start slowly with just the tools needed for essential communication, such as muting/unmuting, video on/off, and chatting. Ideally, meet individually with each student and a family member they designate as their personal tech support. Practice those tools together. This way, the family member knows exactly what the student needs. Also, model how the family member can teach the student, instead of just doing it for them.

2. The teacher has students practice each tool at the beginning of each class session.

3. Have a volunteer or two attend each session to help students who get lost so that the rest of the class can continue with the teacher. Have the volunteer and student(s) be put in a breakout room.

Scroll down this column for materials to use.

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Zoom print and video tutorials in multiple languages

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Zoom print and video tutorials in multiple languages

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Brief and excellent readings, recordings, and webinars on instruction

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Brief and excellent readings, recordings, and webinars on instruction

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- IDEAL Distance Education and Blended Learning Handbook - chapters 'Getting Started' and 'Instruction.' (The modules  are based on this publication.)

- Webinar recording #2 on instruction (EdTech Center @ World Education)

- To interact with humans: attend one/more of the EdTech's strategy sessions!

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From Sharon from Community Action, Inc. (Thank you, Sharon!): I also found a great voice translator for free called SayHi Translate.  It's a voice translator. It will record what you say and translate it into any language you designate.  I had the student put it on her phone so she and I could easily communicate and the masks were not an issue.

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Thank you, Sharon from Community Action, Inc.! Comes with all levels of paid plans: Zoom Video Communications Plans & Pricing | Zoom - Zoom Click Full Plan Comparison to see all features included.

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Zoom has a variety of options for creating virtual closed captioning in your Zoom meetings and webinars that provide subtitles for video conferencing. This may be used by participants to easily follow the conversations or to meet accessibility requirements.

In meetings, the host or another meeting attendee assigned by the host can provide manual captioning, an integrated third-party closed captioning service can provide the captioning, or Zoom's automated captions (also known as live transcription) feature can provide automatic captioning through closed caption settings. These same options are available with webinars, although manual captioning can only be provided by the host or a panelist. Any of these captioning options are also viewable in Zoom Rooms.

For more information about viewing closed captioning or live transcription as a participant or attendee, please refer to the user guide.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for manual captioning

Limitations of manual captioning

For webinars, hosts using desktop client versions lower than 5.11.9 can inadvertently cause both manual captioning and automated captioning to be shown at the same time. It is recommended hosts update to version 5.11.9 or higher to avoid this issue.
As a workaround during a live webinar, the host can disable automated captioning to avoid competing captions.

For webinars, hosts using desktop client versions lower than 5.11.9 can inadvertently cause panelists assigned to be a manual captioner to not see the caption window, where they would be inputting captions. It is recommended hosts update to version 5.11.9 or higher to avoid this issue.

Manual captioners can access the caption window if they click on the tooltip that appears when the host has assigned them to caption.

If they missed the tooltip, the host can re-assign captioning to them, which will make the tooltip again.

How to start manual captioning

Start manual captioning in a Zoom meeting or webinar

1. Start the Zoom meeting or webinar that you are hosting.

2. In the meeting controls toolbar, next to the Show Captions icon , click the up arrow icon .

3. Under Host controls, click Set up manual captioner.

4. Under Enable manual captioner, choose On.

5. Select one of the following options:

Assign a participant to type: Assigns a participant to type closed captions during the meeting.

I will type: Opens the closed captioning window for you to manually type closed captions.

Copy the API token: Copy the URL that you can provide to a third-party closed captioning service to integrate the service with your meeting.
Note: These options are greyed out if Enable manual captioner is disabled above.

Assign a participant to type closed captions

As the host, assign a participant to type closed captions:

1. Start a Zoom meeting or webinar.

2. Start manual captioning.

3. Click Assign a participant to type.
The Participants panel will appear.

4. Find the participant who you want to type closed captions and hover your mouse over their name.

5. Click More .

6. Select Assign to type Closed Caption.
Note: This option will not appear unless Enable manual captioner is enabled.

Once the host assigns you the ability to type closed captions, a notification will appear in the assigned participant's meeting controls. To enter closed captions as a participant:

1. In the meeting controls, next to the Show Captions icon , click the up arrow icon and select the Show caption window option.
The closed caption text box will open.

2. Enter the closed captions in the text box.

3. Press Enter to submit your closed captions.

How to use manual captions in breakout rooms

After you start breakout room sessions, participants can click Show Captions in the meeting controls toolbar to view closed captions. If you're the meeting host, we recommend using a third-party closed captioning service if you want closed captions in breakout rooms.

If you want a participant to type closed captions, make sure you assign them permission to type closed caption before starting the breakout room sessions.

Note: Only one participant can be assigned to type closed captions in a meeting; thus, it is only possible to have one breakout session with closed captioning.

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Zoom has a variety of options for creating virtual closed captioning in your Zoom meetings and webinars that provide subtitles for video conferencing. This may be used by participants to easily follow the conversations or to meet accessibility requirements.

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Thank you to California Adult Education Program!

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This website contains extensive vocabulary lists along with videos and interactive lessons on computer basics, Microsoft Word, email and internet at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.

This site is a collection of self-directed tutorials for users to increase their digital literacy. Modules are video-based with narration, 6 to 22 minutes long, written at the fourth grade reading level.

Through videos, basic readings, and step-by-step instructions, users can learn about using web browsers, email, navigating Windows 10 and OS X, and staying safe online.

Immigrant Stories is a digital storytelling and archiving project. This curriculum will allow students to create a 3-5 minute digital story about a personal experience using the Immigrant Stories website (https://immigrantstories.umn.edu/). The curriculum includes everything you need to assign the project: a 4-week schedule, lesson plans, a grading rubric, and student handouts.

This course presents foundational information about blended learning, including definitions, strategies, examples, and reflective activities presented in multimedia format. The goal of the course is for participants to have a basic understanding of the different forms of blended learning and how they might integrate them into coursework.

Participants in this course learn about integrating mobile devices into their classroom, distance, or blended instruction. It includes definitions, suggested strategies, examples, and reflective activities. The goal of the course is for teachers to have an understanding of the different ways adult learners and their teachers can use flip-phones, smartphones and tablets for learning both in and out of the classroom.

JobScout is a free online learning platform designed to help users learn basic internet skills that they need to find a job. The website is designed for native English speakers, but with support, is appropriate for high intermediate and advanced English language learners.

This learner-based website contains lists of technology-based vocabulary words that learners can listen to, then check their understanding with matching, fill-in-the-blank, and dictation games.

This self-paced professional development module from LINCS is designed for teachers and administrators interested in integrating digital literacy in their classes and programs for adult English Language Learners.

The Northstar Digital Literacy Assessment is a self-guided, online set of assessments that show an individual's ability to perform basic computer skills in seven skill area areas: Basic Computer Use, Internet, Windows OS/Mac OS, Email, Word Processing (using Microsoft Word), Social Media, Excel, and PowerPoint.

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This website contains extensive vocabulary lists along with videos and interactive lessons on computer basics, Microsoft Word, email and internet at beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels. This site is a collection of self-directed tutorials for users to increase their digital literacy. Modules are video-based with narration, 6 to 22 minutes long, written at the fourth grade reading level.

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At NSCAP we purchased Smart Boards for our classrooms to enable our teachers to teach live classes without students needing to be present in the classroom as they can join virtually.

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Affordable, interoperable, plug-and-play smart screen

For conference and classrooms that need solid collaboration tech building blocks, Touchscreen is unbeatable.

Request a Quote Watch the Video Learn about Touchscreen

Touchscreen for Education

Build the OneScreen that teachers need to personalize learning and promote student engagement.

LEARN MORE

Touchscreen for Business

The industry's best quality hardware bundled with ready-to-enable software, makes for one easy-to-use, affordable, compatible smart screen.

LEARN MORE

Free, unlimited
help & training.

Wirelessly share and control, quickly vote or poll, annotate over practically anything - now

Commercial A-grade Touchscreen available in 55"- 86" sizes

Original LG display with 4K Ultra HD resolution and 20-point IR touch capability

Anti-glare glass with 8 MOHS strength surface protection

Powerful Wi-Fi, faster BYOD support: Windows, Mac, Android, Linux, iOS, Chrome OS

Built-in Android 8.0 OS with full access to Google Play Store and multi-login support

2 built-in Dolby 15W stereo speakers to deliver flawless sound experience

OPS PC slot, camera and keyboard trays for plug & play installations

Includes a VESA standard wall mount, 1 remote control for the display, 2 pens and 1 extendable pen

OneScreen Hype: Browser based video conferencing and collaboration, 50 licenses

OneScreen Annotate: Up to 10 users work together in a shared whiteboard space. Easily exchange and annotate content in real-time

OneScreen Attendance: Efficient and secure student attendance management

ZUNI Learning: All of the best, free, online lessons & resources in one place integrated with Google Class

OneScreen EShare: Share, mirror and cast devices/screens or applications wirelessly

OneScreen Central: Centralized screen control, emergency notification, software upgrades & more

OneScreen Navigate: Centralized & customizable product navigation from a home screen

Unlimited multi-party calls with up to 50 participants

Up to 49 ad-hoc participants using Google Chrome, SIP or H.323 platforms

Universal meeting scheduler for WebEx, Adobe Connect and Audio Conference

Multi-camera support for capturing different angles in large meetings and conferences

Save and record your work on cloud or local servers

Share, mirror and cast devices/screens or applications wirelessly

Secure instant messaging and exchange of files

Convert voice to text with real time transcription

Full access to Android apps and Google Play Store with multi-user login support

Write on any content, save, transfer via QR code or email

OneScreen Hype: Browser based video conferencing and collaboration, 50 licenses

OneScreen Annotate: Up to 10 users work together in a shared whiteboard space. Easily exchange and annotate content in real-time (requires a PC)

OneScreen Attendance: Efficient and secure student attendance management

ZUNI Learning: All of the best, free, online lessons & resources in one place integrated with Google Class

OneScreen EShare: Share, mirror and cast devices/screens or applications wirelessly

OneScreen Central: Centralized screen control, emergency notification, software upgrades & more

OneScreen Navigate: Centralized & customizable product navigation from a home screen

Unlimited multi-party calls with up to 50 participants

Up to 49 ad-hoc participants using Google Chrome, SIP or H.323 platforms

Universal meeting scheduler for WebEx, Adobe Connect and Audio Conference

Multi-camera support for capturing different angles in large meetings and conferences

Save and record your work on cloud or local servers

Share, mirror and cast devices/screens or applications wirelessly

Secure instant messaging and exchange of files

Convert voice to text with real time transcription

Full access to Android apps and Google Play Store with multi-user login support

Write on any content, save, transfer via QR code or email

Free unlimited online training with Screen Skills Guru team

Free unlimited online tech support Screen Skills Guru team

OneScreen Touchscreen

Sizes, Specifications and Features

Cloud-based Services*

Priority Notification

OneScreen MeerkatSafe software and one wearable badge for real time alert and location services

Centralized Control

OneScreen Central is centralized screen control, emergency notification, software upgrades & more

Interactive Whiteboard

OneScreen Annotate is interactive whiteboard and annotation software

Screen Share & Stream

EShare software, multi-device screen share & streaming

Annotation

OneScreen Write software, write on any content, save, transfer via QR code or email

Tools Navigation

OneScreen Navigate is for centralized & customizable product navigation from a home screen

Android Applications

Full access to Android Apps including Chorme, YouTube, Office Apps and more

Google Play Store

Full access to Google play store with multi-user login support

Free Help & Training

Unlimited Screen Skills Guru help & training available in one click on video or by chat, phone or email

Education Features

Distance Learning

OneScreen Hype video conferencing with screen sharing, recording, translation/transcription & more

Lesson Plans & Resources

ZUNI Learning provides all of the best, free, online lessons & resources in one place integrated with Google Class

Class Attendance

OneScreen Attendance for efficient and secure student attendance management

Business Features

Video Conferencing

OneScreen Hype video conferencing with screen sharing, recording, translation/transcription & more

Screen Skills Guru Service

Unlimited, free customer support and training via video, audio, chat or phone

Wall Mount

VESA Standard

Remote Controls

Remote Control x 1 for display menu, sleep, source

Cables & Stylus

1 x HDMI Cable, 1 x US Power Cable, 1 x USB Touch Cable, 2 x Pens, 1 x Extendable pen

Advanced HW Replacement Warranty

Available at time of purchase only

*First year of subscriptions to all cloud-based services included

OneScreen Touchscreen 6

Get a free quote

Touchscreen

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interactive whiteboard and video conferencing

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Affordable, interoperable, plug-and-play smart screen For conference and classrooms that need solid collaboration tech building blocks, Touchscreen is unbeatable. Request a Quote Watch the Video Learn about Touchscreen Build the OneScreen that teachers need to personalize learning and promote student engagement.

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Detailed description of how Donna Taylor organized her lesson. Very helpful model! Scroll down to see her post.

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We held lovely Spring Celebrations in May & June for HCC's Ludlow & Springfield sites and ESOL Culinary program. Similar to what Susan describes but on Zoom. And we didn't think to get a pre-recorded message from dignitaries -- what a nice idea!

Recordings on our student website: https://sites.google.com/hcc.edu/esolstudents/spring-celebrations-magazines

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Part 1 instructions and part 2 instructions.  Blog with tips. Video showing how to make links for the objects. BIG thank you to Jayme!

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-Shannon, Community Action Inc.: I decided to use a chat app called KIK.  EASY to use and you don't have to use personal cell phones.

Click for her full review and how she uses it with great success!

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- Cathy/QCC: The advisors held half hour zoom drop in sessions for students and they went very well. A lot of students said they really appreciated this place they could share issues and concerns, and feel supported.

- Rosemary, New Bedford Public Schools: Program admin as well as Advisors drop in on Zoom classes especially at the beginning help students to know they are supported as well!

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Video tutorial: How to use Zoom on a phone

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Video tutorial: How to use Zoom on a phone

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Via Amanda!

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ZOOM! Instructions | The Literacy Center

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Your great ideas from the Directors' Institute

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Your great ideas from the Directors' Institute

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Leah: Talking Points is an amazing app to reach out!
Cathy: Use bitmoji to create a fun virtual flyer.
Riva: Facebook pages of community partners and libraries.
Leslie: We developed professional brochures for WIOA front line partners. They list all our programming details, social media and contact information. Pesha: This is for returning students, but click to see our student website -- in process!
Susan:  Recruit students being explicit that they'll need to work remotely while reassuring them that we will support them in use of technology.

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The What, Why, Who, and How of Blended Learning

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The What, Why, Who, and How of Blended Learning

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Includes vignettes from real live teachers!

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ProLiteracy/New Readers Press has just released a new guide, The What, Who, Why, and How of Blended Learning for Adult Basic Skills Learners, written by David Rosen and Jen Vanek. The guide is for teachers, tutors, and administrators of organizations and schools who provide adult basic skills education and are interested in implementing or improving blended learning for students.
What is Blended Learning?
Blended learning is defined as an instructional approach that has a face-to-face class or tutorial integrated with online learning in which students have some "control over time, place, path, and/or pace." ¹ Often misunderstood, blended learning is not the same as distance education, which is entirely, or almost entirely online learning or even a hybrid approach. With blended learning, face-to-face and online components are integrated so that the two components reinforce each other. Blended learning can be implemented with all students, including adult basic education, English language learning, adult secondary education, and while transitioning to post-secondary education.
What Does the Blended Learning Guide Cover?
The new blended learning guide from New Readers Press includes practical how-tos and resources for a range of service providers-from programs just beginning to explore blended learning to programs who aim to further develop or improve their blended learning practices. The key questions addressed are:

How can blended learning help with what and who is taught?

Why use a blended learning approach?

How can a program get started?

What does blended learning look like?

What online resources work with blended learning?

What are some common challenges in implementing blended learning?
Professional Development for Implementing Blended Learning
Blended learning offers adult learners the flexibility and independence and helps instructors use real-time progress data to help them tailor instruction to the different needs of their students.

In a recent ProLiteracy survey of the field most of the 500 programs that responded were interested in implementing blended learning (results of the blended learning survey can be found in a series of blogs).

An overwhelming theme of survey responses was that professional development on how to get started and properly implement blended learning was the biggest need and challenge faced by programs. This new blended learning guide directly responds to these needs expressed by adult educators. It will help all types of adult education programs discover tips, strategies, and case studies for implementing blended learning. Programs will be ready to successfully formulate and implement a plan for using blended learning instruction in their classrooms.

References:
1 https://www.christenseninstitute.org/blended-learning-definitions-and-models/

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The What, Why, Who, and How of Blended Learning for Adult Basic Skills Learners

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ProLiteracy/New Readers Press has just released a new guide,&nbsp;The What, Who, Why, and How of Blended Learning for Adult Basic Skills Learners,&nbsp;written by David Rosen and Jen Vanek. The guide is for teachers, tutors, and administrators of organizations and schools who provide adult basic skills education and are interested in implementing or improving blended learning for students.

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Leslie's program prefers Chromebooks. They teach students about saving info in the cloud, i.e., Google Drive.

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To tickle your brain for standards-based lessons. Click to access it.

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Part 1 instructions and part 2 instructions.  Blog with tips. Video showing how to make links for the objects. BIG thank you to Jayme!

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SAMR Model: Translating in-person lessons into ones students use digital skills for - SAMR model

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SAMR Model: Translating in-person lessons into ones students use digital skills for - SAMR model

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Dr. Puentedura graciously Creative Commons-licenses some of his papers to allow for reproduction on other sites with attribution.

I have taken one of the PDF files and turned it into a slideshow below. I have included links to the original PDF files in case you want to download it from Dr. Puentedura's site.

Bloom's and SAMR:
​My thoughts based on the work of R. Puentedura, A. Churches and L. Nelson

I feel teachers need to both create tasks that target the higher-order cognitive skills (Bloom's) as well as design tasks that have a significant impact on student outcomes (SAMR). A visual to illustrate that follows.

Educators will argue they have seen redefinition tasks that only target the remembering level or have a creative assessment that is only at the augmentation level. Of course that is true, but I believe we should be planning for technology tasks, activities, and assessments that include both the higher levels of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy and the transformation area of the SAMR model.

My vision of how the Bloom's and SAMR models work together and intersect follows below.

Bloom's and TECH: My thoughts

Work by others

Videos by others

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SAMR is a model designed to help educators infuse technology into teaching and learning. Popularized by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, the model supports and enables teachers to design, develop, and ...

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Blended course using Schoology and Burlington English

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Blended course using Schoology and Burlington English

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Click for a slideshow of my course - it was fun! A lotta work, but fun!

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We held our end-of-year celebration on Zoom yesterday. Some technical glitches and learning moments, but all-in-all it was a success! We had each teacher put together a Google Slide presentation with photos and memories from the year, and words from the students if they wanted... one teacher even made a video, and a few of the students collaborated to write a song about the school! We put these Slides together as one big presentation and shared it with the attendees. Students were asked to share some words if they wanted, and the teachers and co-directors had little speeches, too. We invited volunteers, too. We sent the presentation to the students who couldn't attend. Not our normal event, but a nice substitution.

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From Amanda Blount, The Literacy Center in Attleboro: We provide limited cellular service to a few students who are unable to pay for that at this time. We utilize data plans on SIM cards that we purchased through a contract with T Mobile.  We installed the SIM cards in Samsung Galaxy tablets and loaned the tablets to our students.

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Online courses on career and college prep, test prep - including en espanol! It's pretty text-y so it would be a good idea for you to have supplementary activities that involve interactivity/media.  Free through Boston Public Library, to which anyone can get an electronic card in order to access.

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Access Gale's Excel Adult High School, Peterson's Test Prep, and Peterson's Career Prep all through one portal.

Excel Adult High School offers the opportunity for Massachusetts residents age 19+ to earn an accredited high school diploma, fully online! Students can access courses 24/7 and can finish the program in lest time with transfer credits. Ongoing support from instructors and success coaches is available through an online tutoring program.

Peterson's Test Prep and Peterson's Career Prep offer free resume and job search help, career advice, career assessments, military crosswalk guidance, self-paced courses on vocation tests, and full-length practice tests.

Search thousands of college and graduate schools, identify scholarships, take practice tests, and use test prep eBooks. A companion to Peterson's Career Prep.

Test preparation materials and practice exams for K-12 subjects, high school equivalency, college and graduate admissions, military, U.S. citizenship, and professional licensing and certification exams. Includes the Job & Career Accelerator to help you achieve your career goals, and the Computer Skills Center to learn popular software and computer basics.
Watch our tutorial

Car, motorcycle, and CDL practice tests and handbooks, presented in partnership with driving-tests.org.

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- Click to check out the slideshows.
- Click for a webinar recording to learn more about Carlos Rosario's approach.

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We held a Closing Ceremony using Google Meet! It was by no means perfect, but we are all learning in this new environment. I set up the event and emailed invitations to our teaching staff, who copied the invitation and coached students in their classes ahead of time on how to join. That part requires a lot of patience :-) As a staff, we had a lot of discussion beforehand to plan the event and help each other- we've been meeting virtually once a week. It was great to see faces and hear voices altogether! We acknowledged year-long perfect attendance recipients, listened to pre-selected student speakers, and presented a previously-recorded YouTube message from our city mayor congratulating students. The highlight was presenting a previously-prepared video montage of individual staff messages to classes, and photos taken in each class throughout the school year- very emotional! Of course we'll reflect on how to improve. We recorded the event so that we can send it out to every student- all of our participants are issued a Gmail account through the local school department. Something we have learned through this process is that we need to spend alot of time with students on mastering accessing their gmail account and how to access Google Meet thru their phones.

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Tech Tools for Coaches and Navigators (and others as well)

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Tech Tools for Coaches and Navigators (and others as well)

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NCTN's terrific tips and tools for various types of work with students.

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-  See 'Conducting Student Intake at a Distance.'
- Addressing the need for students to do the assessments independently: explain that it's to place them in the correct class, and if someone helps them, they may be placed in a level that's too high, which they'd feel uncomfortable in.

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Open educational resources & free learning resources

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Open educational resources & free learning resources

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On the Distance Learning Tips page, scroll down to Instructional Resources and Learning Content and click OER. Also check out Free Learning Resource Directories.

Click to take the self-paced tutorial Carolyn is referring to.

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So cool! Here's one example. (Not an endorsement.)

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Foldable Keyboard, iClever BK03 Portable Keyboard with Stand Holder (Sync Up to 3 Devices), Full-Size Bluetooth Keyboard for iPhone, iPad, Smartphone, Laptop, Tablet

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Buy Foldable Keyboard, iClever BK03 Portable Keyboard with Stand Holder (Sync Up to 3 Devices), Full-Size Bluetooth Keyboard for iPhone, iPad, Smartphone, Laptop, Tablet: Keyboards - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

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Hotspots act like a modem: they provide an internet connection to devices. The person with the device just needs to enter the hotspot code to connect. Here are a few sources for discounted hotspots:

PCs for People

Tech Soup

Also many cellphones have settings to make them hotspots. (This can drain the battery, so plugging in is best.)

Also, some students are going to their programs and libraries and connecting to their hotspots. While the buildings are closed, they do this from their cars.

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Support for applicants/students who have digital/connectivity needs

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Support for applicants/students who have digital/connectivity needs

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- Help low-income students get free/low-cost connectivity. Check out NDIA, Mobile Beacon, and everyoneon.org
- Tech Goes Home - Students can enroll in classes at partner sites. Classes include a 15-hr course, and graduates receive a device and the opportunity to get low-cost internet for 1 year.  Become a partner site! Requires instructor to be trained. TGH partners are in a number of cities in eastern MA, and TGH invites those in other areas to contact them about becoming partners.
-Loan devices. Click above for an example contract.
-Buy devices in bulk. Leah recommends Newegg.

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CK-12 See C & I centers with implementation questions.

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Platform and tool instructional videos for students

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Platform and tool instructional videos for students

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Google Classroom student tutorials in many languages.

Google Classroom, Meet, USA Learns, and more! (Thank you, Hubbs Center @ St. Paul Public Schools!)

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Microsoft Digital Literacy Course with multilingual captions. Earn certificates.

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Shows your phone screen on your computer! Great for showing how to use apps/sites. One app to do this is called, surprisingly Mobile to PC/TV. I like it because to download it, it asks for access to a minimum of personal info.

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Thanks to MN ABE DL.

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We offer professional development, consultation and support for distance learning for Adult Basic Education (ABE) programs. We are a Minnesota ABE Support Services provider, and provide services nationally as well.

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Screencasting - record your screen for reusable teaching/instructional videos

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Screencasting - record your screen for reusable teaching/instructional videos

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Uses: video meetings that students can review/those who can't attend can view, instructions for how to access/use a website or complete an activity
Screencast-O-Matic - free w/15 min limit per upload to their site or $48/yr for unlimited time & full editing tools
Screencastify - free w/30-min limit

Post the videos on a program YouTube account. Check out NSCC ALC's great page. (Thank you Stacy Randell-Shaheen,  Diane Amelia Read, and Kim Hemme!) Have separate channels for each teacher/advisor.

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Some, in order of complexity of navigation, and that vary in what's most relevant to students' future goals (college, etc.):
- A Google Doc such as a hyperdoc (a document with links)
- Padlet - example
- Canvas - example setup - jump around to see the bits you're wondering about. At 6:18, see the home page.
- Edmodo -  Example class site. Distance Learning Toolkit of Edmodo Resources
- Google Classroom - Example class site. Very cool: Student instructions in many languages!
- Schoology - click to see a slideshow including my class site

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Translate in-person activities to a distance learning format

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Translate in-person activities to a distance learning format

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Future Learn Digital Skills Assessment and lessons

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Future Learn Digital Skills Assessment and lessons

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Covers how to handle work situations.

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What's next?

Through Future Edge, Capital One will address the digital skills gap through partnerships, community grants, and support for digital skills training.

Later this year, Grovo's innovative training technology and Future Edge curriculum will be made available to Capital One's nonprofit partners across the country, helping over 5,000 underserved Americans access the skills they need to succeed.

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In partnership with Grovo, Capital One has developed a free and open digital literacy program. This course gives everyone access to the digital skills needed for today's middle-skill roles - jobs that don't require a bachelor's degree, but pay above the national living wage. Start building your skills today!

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These can inform the communications you have with prospective students.

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- Test everything on yourself to see from the student perspective. If possible, have a few students try them and give feedback to give give a more accurate sense of how well students will manage it.
- Leslie, Webster Public Schools: We have program technologists that supported students with tech sessions prior to remote learning. They also were available to troubleshoot each night. Teachers and I handled the tech troubleshooting during the day.

- Leslie, Webster Public Schools: My advisors, technologists and I all moved from every online class to class to have a presence, show support and to help troubleshoot any tech issues or student needs.

- Student BYO device to assessment to make sure it will work, otherwise signing out available devices
- Phone speaking and listening assessment, writing samples

- Socially distant assessments depending on space/resources: drive-thru/parking lot, distanced inside if space allows, by 1-3 students at a time appointment
- Have a webinar for the portion of your usual orientation where you create connections with students and among students, explain about how the program works, etc. Send paperwork before or after the webinar, such as intake forms using Google Forms. If you do testing at this point in the process, see 'Screening/Applications' for AACA's ways of testing.
- To onboard students to tech platforms they'll be using, break the process into steps and send them/cover during a webinar or recorded screencast spaced out over time: 1. Download, log in, and check in with each student; 2: navigate app; 3. how to log in to video meetings; 4: how to navigate video meetings.
- Provide simple instructions with images for accessing materials: text list of step-by-step; create screencast and post to class home base (Google Classroom, Google Doc)
- Be proactive about checking whether students have accessed materials/logged into course. Reach out to check in to see how they're doing/help they need
- For beginner level students, call and give 1:1 support and texting. Ideally have instructions and support in their own language.

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Zoom instructions in English and Spanish

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Zoom instructions in English and Spanish

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Copy of Online English Classes_ Zoom Set Up [English-Spanish]

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Various assessment strategies from the Asian American Civic Association

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Various assessment strategies from the Asian American Civic Association

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Thank you very much to Kevin Freeley, Eddie Adams, Jane Co, and Shinobu Ando!

For ESOL, we are planning to administer 2 timed writing tests and 1 phone interview with a teacher. For Eddie's ABE applicants, in addition to a writing sample, he will be adding a short math quiz to figure out generally what type of math problems they can solve. He is currently working with our math teacher to figure out multiple choice questions. We are eliminating reading tests we used to use for the remote intake. Jane and Eddie both have work cell phones, so they will be able to stay on the phone to guide students step by step.

We are planning on using Socrative (which is easy to use on cell phones) to collect writing samples and google hangout (so students can call in) to conduct interviews. Zoom is an option for applicants who already have an account.

[Socrative support page for instructions]

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This form can be sent via a communication app, email, shared via Google Docs, converted to a Google Form, or done as an interview.

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See 'Digital Skills Assessment' under 'Screening'.

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See 'Digital Skills Assessment' under 'Screening'.

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Voice of experience: Discussion from one program that moved from blended to online using this curriculum.

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LINCS Community | Adult Education and Literacy | U.S. Department of Education

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Hello Integrating Technology and Program Management colleagues,

I plan to have a series of interviews with adult basic skills (including ESOL/ESL) programs and schools that are moving, or have moved, their classes online. If your program is interested in being featured, please email me at djrosen123@gmail.com. The CEO of the first program in the series will join us this Tuesday.

It is my pleasure to announce that we will have as a guest this Tuesday, March 24 th, Anthony Tassi, CEO of Literacy Partners in New York City, a two-generation or family literacy program. As with some of you who are program administrators, teachers/instructors or tutors, with little notice the doors of Literacy Partners' in-person classes have had to close. Also, perhaps like you, he and his team are working from home, where they have some of the challenges that you may have. Anthony, and perhaps some of his staff members, have been gracious to agree to spend a day with us to share how they are addressing the challenges of moving in-person-classes online. He and his team do not necessarily regard themselves as experts in this area, but rather, perhaps like you, are focusing on helping their students stay connected, and providing them with continued learning during the pandemic until they can return to in-person classes. Anthony is looking forward to our questions, and to the opportunity to meet you online, and hear about ways that you are finding or have found to help students learn online.

Here is a little about Anthony
Anthony Tassi is the CEO of Literacy Partners in New York City. Literacy Partners provided in-person adult and family literacy programming for 45+ years until last weekend... when it became an online education program. The program focuses on parents -- helping to build their literacy and language skills while backing them to promote their children's early learning, social emotional growth, and school readiness. Anthony is an Emmy Award winning creator, producer and writer of educational television shows. Because 12-hour days in family literacy were not enough, he was recently appointed acting principal, dean of student affairs, and head custodian of a new home-schooling academy in Brooklyn NY attended by his 11-year old daughter and their dog.
I would add that, among the television shows that Anthony has created or produced, are We Are New York and We Speak New York, used by English language teachers and learners in New York City and in many other parts of the country. In addition to asking Anthony about what Literacy Partners is now doing online with students, you are welcome to ask about these programs broadcast in New York, and also available free online. Some or all of these episodes might be useful for your own online learning for your English language students.
Please reply to this post (by selecting "+ Add new comment" below) with your questions for Anthony now, and join us on Tuesday
David J. Rosen, Moderator

LINCS CoP Integrating Technology and Program management groups

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How Literacy Partners of NYC, a two-generation family literacy program, is moving classes online

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Hello Integrating Technology and Program Management colleagues, I plan to have a series of interviews with adult basic skills (including ESOL/ESL) programs and schools that are moving, or have moved, their classes online. If your program is interested in being featured, please email me at djrosen123@gmail.com.

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Support for applicants who have device/connectivity needs

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Support for applicants who have device/connectivity needs

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See the Technology and Connectivity Access column for resources.